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ANU CALL TO ACTION ON SASHHowever, as much as these achievements are to be commended, students are still falling through the cracks. They are frequently let down by a system and an institutional culture that have been slow to change. Student leaders in this space have faced issues of communication from the university around keystone events, and past audiences with key groups have left student leaders feeling disempowered around how genuinely senior management view student input and activism in this area. It has also been disappointing to see the Student Code of Conduct, a tool advocated for by student leaders and activists as a means to increase student safety from sexual harrassment and sexual violence, being used by the university earlier this year as leverage to discourage student campaigners and activists. Furthermore, the lack of progress in bringing the current Staff Code Of Conduct in line with the new Student Code has led to inconsistencies in how the university responds to sexual violence and in the outcomes of these responses. It is equally important that the Nous Review’s recommendations continue to be implemented, especially at new halls that were not reviewed. For example, it is crucial that Residential Cultural Change Plans (Recommendation 12) are implemented at every hall. The ANU must remain resolutely committed to not only responding to current student expectations, but being a driving force of change on our campus.Throughout 2020, Residential Hall student leaders have been committed to reaching out and collaborating with the RRU, and many would like to see a greater effort made to respond to the concerns and suggestions provided by those who live in residences. Feedback should not only be received positively, but indeed actively sought out. There should be developing relationships between the RRU and every residence, and indeed with student organisations across campus who seek to achieve similar ends. We hope that the lessons learnt during the last two years for a number of halls that were either established or involved in building changes are considered when new residences, such as SA8, are established. It is critical for support for all survivors that staff structures are able to provide pastoral care, and as we did a year ago in the Do Better ANU protests, we continue to call upon the ANU to install Deputy Head-equivalent positions in every residential hall. We are further disappointed by the failure of the university to address domestic violence with COVID-19. In their annual survey, PARSA found that 2% of students (20) indicated that they have been at risk of family and/or domestic violence due to the movement restrictions as part of the COVID-19, and a further 7% (60) said that they may have been at risk. While the Respectful Relationships Unit has done some work on the issue, we were disappointed at the lack of tailored resource creation for the ANU community and the lack of any distribution of those resources and outreach around domestic violence to students and staff. Failure to do so has resulted in student leaders and associations bearing the burden of support during COVID-19, despite already having limited resources to do so. Lastly, we believe that many recent and past cases have demonstrated a continued lack of accountability in disclosure and reporting processes that have let students down. There must be clearer processes, more accountability mechanisms, and a structure that prioritises the care and support of survivors. Transparency not only improves systems through understanding what can be improved upon; transparency makes disclosing and reporting so much easier for all survivors. Understanding what processes there are, and how they work, are critical to the progress that the students of ANU deserve. To survivors, we believe you, we support you, always and forever. We support and stand with those who throughout the years sought to hold institutions and perpetrators accountable for their actions. Recommendations: 1. An increase in resourcing and logistical support to groups who provide support and drive cultural change on campus. Successful student engagement requires effective communication and effective advertising. 2. A commitment to reforming the Staff Code of Conduct to bring it in line with Student Code. 3. A commitment to not weaponise the Code of Conduct against student protest and freedom of speech. 4. A commitment to not only accepting, but also actively seeking out, student feedback and cooperation with student leaders across campus. 5. Recognition of the importance of multiple pastoral care staff positions at every hall on campus, and the implementation of Deputy Head-equivalent positions at every hall. 6. A commitment to more transparent and accountable reporting and disclosing procedures. 7. Survivor-led models of care towards students146 of 200 SignaturesCreated by ANU Students' Association
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Patients over profits - It's time for staffing ratios in IVF ClinicsProfessional Scientists Australia is petitioning the Fertility Society of Australia to put patients first. 72.5 % of fertility scientists believe that high workloads have increased the possibility of human errors occurring at work.* Women's reproductive health should be in the hands of fertility scientists who have the skills, time and knowledge to look after patients. Without a voice for fertility scientists', profits are being put ahead of workers and patient's health and families. Patients, scientists, and the public need to stand together to demand an enforceable staff to patient ratio like those seen overseas that will lead to better patient outcomes and stem the tide of staff burnout. 56.9 % of fertility scientists say that the industry’s high workloads have harmed their mental health.* If we don’t have an enforceable staff to patient ratio the fertility industry will continue to be driven by profit and workers will be unable to help people bring about their dreams of having a family. 89.4 per cent of scientists believe there should be explicit provisions for adequate staff ratios in IVF clinics.* If we stand together, we can ensure the industry is driven by best practice science, informed patients and scientists who have the time and training to look after each patient properly. *January 2020, PSA survey of fertility scientists202 of 300 SignaturesCreated by Professional Scientists Australia
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LEQ Stop the Cuts, Controls & ConstraintsTeachers and school support staff working in Queensland Lutheran schools are facing the biggest attack on working rights seen in their sector. A serious question mark hangs over the employment future of employees in Queensland Lutheran schools as their employer remains intent of pushing through a plan of cuts, controls and constraints to the existing working conditions. Some of the cuts the LEQ want to make to their employees’ conditions: - CUTS to Teacher Hours of Duty protections for some teachers - CUTS to key employment protections which ensure procedural fairness and natural justice for all employees LEQ's shameful plan was made very clear when the employer stopped collective bargaining negotiations in early June 2020 with a view to hold a ballot on its substandard agreement for employees. LEQ’s plan will make it far from an employer of choice in the non-government education sector. The move by LEQ to cut, control and constrain current conditions is an affront to Queensland Lutheran teachers and school support staff who have shown the utmost dedication and professionalism over the last few months of the COVID-19 crisis. Learn more about LEQ's plan of cuts, controls & contraints @ www.qieu.asn.au/stopthecuts250 of 300 SignaturesCreated by Independent Education Union Qld & NT
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Call on the Australian government to ratify ILO Violence and Harassment Convention now!This Convention is ground-breaking for many reasons, including that it: • Protects against all forms of violence and harassment in the world of work, including during commuting to and from work, and through information and communications technologies; • Protects all individuals in the world of work, irrespective of their contractual status, including volunteers, trainees and apprentices, and casuals; • Recognises that family and domestic violence is a workplace issue and sets out specific measures that can be taken to protect workers; • Recognises that workers in some sectors, such as health, transport, education, retail and hospitality, or those working at night or in isolated areas, may be more exposed to violence and harassment and need special protections. Although violence and harassment in the workplace can be suffered by any worker, stereotyping and power inequalities make women much more vulnerable to it. The ACTU’s 2018 sexual harassment survey found nearly two thirds (64%) of women and more than one third (34%) of men who responded had experienced one or more forms of sexual harassment at some point in their working lives. The Sex Discrimination Commissioner supports ratification of the Convention in her report ‘Respect@Work’, which shows that our laws don’t keep workers safe. We urgently need improvements to our work health and safety law, anti-discrimination laws, and workplaces laws which make governments and employers step up and do their bit to prevent violence and harassment. Please tell the Attorney-General and Minister for Women to urgently commit to ratify C.190 to make workplaces healthy, safe and respectful for all of us.188 of 200 Signatures
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NO UNI FEE HIKES! SAVE THE HUMANITIES!The Morrison government's announcement that it will double fees for a series of humanities degrees is one of the worst attacks on students in recent times. Law, economics, management and commerce subjects will face fee hikes that means students could be charged up to $72,500 for a 5 year degree such as Law. The cost of a humanities or communication degree will be more than doubled - increasing by 113% to $14,500 a year. A three year arts degree will now cost approx. $45,000. This is essentially an attempt to abolish the humanities as a serious discipline, and instead restrict its accessibility to only wealthy students. This fee increase deliberately prioritises economically profitable degrees, while decreasing the accessibility of degrees designed to encourage critical thinking about society. Our education should not be subordinate to the needs of industry. The government wants to divide us by granting fee reductions to other students. We reject a two-tiered fee system that attempts to force students into studying what the government deems more important. Students should have the right to study what they want. Cost should never be a barrier when deciding what to study at university, or even if you want to study at all. We need free, fully funded public education, not a user pay model that prioritises particular disciplines or degrees. We are demanding that the government to scrap the proposed fee increases for university degrees. Written by Jazz Breen & Jack Mansell, Sydney University SRC Education Officers617 of 800 SignaturesCreated by Jack Mansell
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LANTITE CampaignLiteracy and Numeracy Test for Initial Education Students [LANTITE] and the administration of LANTITE. We can understand your frustration given Education and the COVID-19 pandemic; We believe you can understand and appreciate our frustration in regard to the LANTITE and our inability to graduate. As a result, we implore you for your support in removing the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Education Students (LANTITE) administered by ACER as a graduate requirement. These students have successfully completed the units in their degrees, as well as professional practise in the form of placements. Throughout degrees and placements, the importance of literacy and numeracy is highlighted. We implore you to support the removal of LANTITE as a graduation requirement. In doing so, you will be contributing and assisting Australia’s economic return through this pandemic.1,558 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by LANTITE 4REGISTRATION
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Every worker must be supported in this crisis!The Government must extend income support to all workers. Not doing so risks the entire community’s health and shirks Australia's moral responsibility to look after the wellbeing of all who are here during an unprecedented pandemic. The lack of support for this group of people shows that the Government treats migrants and international students as cash cows. They hire them for cheap labour and ask them to pay huge education fees, but when things get difficult, they wash their hands clean of any responsibility. This pandemic does not discriminate based on visa status or employment status, and neither should we. Everyone deserves to be safe. That's is why we need Minister Ruston to ensure a wage subsidy for all workers so that all of us can follow public health advice and stay safe during this crisis. Sign the petition now.10 of 100 SignaturesCreated by United Workers Union
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Give Shelley and Karen permanent cleaning roles – for everyone’s safety at TPS!The DOJ is putting the health and safety of COs and others in the prison at risk. Cleaning is at the front line of defense amid the Covid-19 crisis. But by keeping our prison cleaners contracted and casual, the Department is neglecting the management of this crucial job and putting lives at risk. Right now, coronavirus is threatening the health and livelihood of people all over the world, and here in Tasmania we are fighting it daily. We know that if coronavirus gets hold in TPS that isolation is not an option. An outbreak in the prison complex will decimate inmates and Officers, and must be prevented at all costs! TPS is trusting a mainland contract cleaning company to have the leadership and know-how to keep you safe! This company employs Shelley and Karen as Casuals. They have no isolation leave like you do ‒ they don’t even have any sick leave. They don’t have access to any of the systems and supports that you do, but they’re expected to keep RPC hygiene and disease free! Shelley and Karen play a vital role in ensuring the prison facilities are sanitised and virus-free. They keep employees and inmates safe. Yet they’re not afforded the respect they deserve such as job security, sick leave and a fair wage. They’re not given appropriate PPE or training in infection control. This puts us all at risk! Giving Shelley and Karen permanent roles can change this! There have been two vacant cleaning positions in the prison complex for over two years that the company has refused to fill. We need to tell TPS there has never been a more important time to employ cleaning staff and support them with the resources and training they need to keep us all safe. We demand that the DOJ directly employ Shelley & Karen immediately, give them access to special COVID-19 leave, and train them in infection control.80 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Sarah Ellis
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COVID-19 - Call time on Term 1Our union’s primary concern is that schools cannot currently meet either their legislative Work, Health and Safety (WHS) obligations or their duty of care to both their employees and students while the school term continues.5,932 of 6,000 SignaturesCreated by Independent Education Union Qld & NT
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Calling for a vote of no confidence in the Morrison government.I created the petition based on the myriad of scandals the Morrison government is embroiled in. The prime minister isn’t honestly dealing with allegations of corruption and rorting. He isn’t taking climate action seriously and the political/financial interference of the fossil fuel industry is likely behind that. He’s hell bent on rolling out of the Indue card despite evidence of how it disadvantages the most vulnerable people. And there’s an overall lack of accountability, transparency and integrity. Where is a Federal ICAC? The list goes on. I could also include the unwillingness to implement recommendations from Royal Commissions, the poor response to the bushfire crisis, and the rise of right wing extremism, and claiming a surplus from the NDIS underspend while splashing money around dodgy contracts with Indue, Paladin and others with links to the LNP. I truly believe that if enough ordinary people stand up we can let politicians know that democracy belongs to us and not to them. They should serve the public good and not just be in it for themselves, and the power that comes with their elected positions. When they make bad decisions, they need to take responsibility and be answerable to us. I’m sure there’s enough of us who want to give the prime minister the message: Scotty from marketing - we’re not buying what you’re selling.1,355 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Margaret Sinclair
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Early childhood educators deserve respect and a fair wageI’ve seen too many colleagues leave because of the low pay and limited career progression. It’s not fair on the children who deserve high quality kindergarten education with experienced educators who can afford to build long term careers. Premier Andrews has committed to providing kindergarten to every Victorian three year old by 2022. To do this our kindergartens will need thousands of extra educators and keep the ones we’ve got. But the promise to every three-year-old will not be kept if we can’t attract new colleagues because of low pay. If you value the work of educators, we need you to please give us your support.3,395 of 4,000 SignaturesCreated by Sara, early childhood educator
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Melissa Horne - Out of touch and out of her depthThe Minister for Public Transport is out of touch and out of her depth. Her comments have angered the hardworking women and men who keep Melbourne's network running and her lack of action has led Victoria into a transport crisis. RTBU members do not support politicians who don’t support us, nor do we support politicians who are dismissive of workers and our rights. We are calling upon workers EVERYWHERE to unite in solidarity by signing this petition to call for a public apology from Minister Melissa Horne, along with her resignation as Public Transport Minister.1,431 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Kathryn Breakwell - RTBU Women's Officer








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